Posted on 11/13/2004 1:22:27 PM PST by wagglebee
PIKEVILLE, Ky. -- The mother of a Marine from eastern Kentucky now fighting in Iraq said she was thrilled to see her son's photograph on the front pages of newspapers this week.
Maxie Webber of Robinson Creek in Pike County said the close-up of Lance Cpl. Blake Miller, his face covered with dirt and a cigarette hanging from his lips, let her know that her son was OK.
Miller, 20, a graduate of Shelby Valley High School, is serving with Charlie Company of the U.S. Marines First Division in Fallujah, an insurgent stronghold.
Fallujah has been the site of some of the most severe battles with the Iraqi insurgency, and this week U.S. troops began a fierce battle for control of the city.
The photo, taken by Los Angeles Times photographer Luis Sinco, has appeared in newspapers across the nation. Webber said she first saw it when CBS News anchor Dan Rather showed it to viewers on Wednesday. Photo editor Alan Hagman confirmed Friday that the photo was of Miller.
"I just sat here and I thought, that's my son," Webber said. "I couldn't believe it. To me, it's just God's way because Blake is a Christian. It's just like God saying, 'I'm letting you know he's OK.'"
Webber said she stays home as much as possible in case her son calls.
"I don't want to miss his call because you never know if that call will be the last one," she said.
Webber said she also bought an answering machine for her phone just in case Miller, the oldest of her three sons, calls while she's out. She has one message on the answering machine from Aug. 1.
"And when I get lonely, and it's been a few days, I play that tape," Webber said.
Webber said her son's decision to join the Marines has changed the way she thinks about America.
"Until my son went into the Marines, I never really realized what that flag stood for - but now I do," she said.
I hope Marlboro Man makes enough money from whatever source that he can buy his Mother a satellite dish. That way she won't have to watch Dan Rather to get her news.
I'm sure CBS is the only station available to her. Why else would she watch it?
I'll bet you money that he's be offended if they tried to give him the PH, unlike sKerry........
Smoking is part of the middle school related arts program in eastern kentucky!
I have a sneaking suspicion that he's going to receive plenty of cigs now!
Does anyone have this marine's address? I would like to send him some cigarettes and a care package from Baton Rouge. I have never posted here, but read here all the time, so sorry if I did this wrong.
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I'm sure there is some PC officer in his chain of command that is not please he is smoking...in uniform. I saw it happen 20 years ago before all the PC smoking BS.
I saw in the Albany NY paper that he was Charlie Company 1st Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment
Can somebody post a picture from his high school year book so we can see what he looks like all cleaned up.
Bump for the Marlboro Man!
Now yer talkin'!
lukers/posters: lots more comment on this thread:
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1279032/posts
(not playing forum monitor...just getting folks to critical mass on topics)
a Mom always recognises her own, LOL
Also looks like his nose has been busted a few times, LOL.
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